A Triacylated Lipoprotein from Mycoplasma genitalium Activates NF-κB through Toll-Like Receptor 1 (TLR1) and TLR2

Abstract

ABSTRACT Mycoplasma genitalium is a sexually transmitted bacterial pathogen that causes nongonococcal chlamydia-negative urethritis, mucopurulent cervicitis, endometritis, pelvic inflammatory disease, and tubal factor infertility in humans. However, pathogenic agents that induce inflammatory responses have not been identified in M. genitalium . In this study, we examined the involvement of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) in activation of the immune response by a lipoprotein from M. genitalium and their active component responsible for NF-κB activation. The Triton X-114 detergent phase of M. genitalium was found to induce NF-κB through TLR2. The active component of the Triton X-114 detergent phase was a lipoprotein precursor, MG149. The activation of NF-κB by MG149 was inhibited by a dominant negative (DN) construct of TLR1 but not by a DN construct of TLR6. These results indicate that the activation of NF-κB by MG149 is dependent on TLR1 and TLR2. A synthetic lipopeptide derived from MG149 containing three acyl chains also induced NF-κB through TLR1 and TLR2. Thus, the results show that MG149, a triacylated lipoprotein from M. genitalium , activates NF-κB through TLR1 and TLR2.